Conflict can take a considerable toll in the workplace. It impairs performance and affects employee morale, and if left unchecked, it can affect a company’s reputation and, ultimately, its bottom line. Every year, workplace conflict costs companies a staggering $359 billion in the United States alone. Poor communication, personality clashes…

Countries across Africa and the Middle East have seen an explosion in microfinance lending, with lending officers arriving at people’s homes and businesses armed with a clipboard, assessing the value of collateral such as cars or livestock. Financial inclusion has become something of a buzz phrase of late. To be…

Whether we are talking about your boss or your best friend, communication is crucial in all types of relationships. In a romantic context, lack of communication is a common cause of relationship breakdowns. In any relationship, it is important to be able to express your feelings, thoughts, opinions, and expectations…

Digital innovations are disrupting virtually every aspect of the banking and finance ecosystem, and insurance is no exception. Insurance companies should regard insurtech as an opportunity. Insiders predict that that the insurance industry is headed down a path of disruptive innovation, conferring the ability to drastically improve operations and increase…

With the brain picking up nonverbal cues in just a fifth of a second, body language reveals so much more about us to our audience than our words ever do. First impressions are all-important. …

While the COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on numerous global industries, in others, it did have some positive side effects. Over the past 12 months, certain types of financial technology attracted a surge in interest from VCs and angel investors. With many countries imposing lockdowns and stay-at-home orders, European…

A lack of cultural awareness can have big implications for any business. Cross-cultural communication errors can cause companies to lose out on contracts, or affect productivity, ultimately impacting profitability. The world is getting smaller. Developments in communications and logistics combined with the development of an international, interconnected economy have brought…

Unconscious bias comes in a variety of different forms. If you are considering hiring someone based on a “gut feeling,” in all likelihood, you may well be doing it for all the wrong reasons. Despite our best efforts, unconscious biases can be incredibly pervasive, creeping in and catching us unaware…

Cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular all over the world as an alternative to traditional banking systems. In the summer of 2021, the Spanish government introduced a new bill paving the way for borrowers to use digital assets to pay their mortgage installments. The legislation is aimed at deepening acceptance, regulation…